Dear Friends,
"One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and
nature should not be broken"
On April 22 2021 we will be celebrating Earth Day.
Earth Day, commencing in 1970 is a global reminder that we should not take our beautiful planet for granted. In the Northern Hemisphere we are feeling the warmth of the Spring season, and a cooler weather change that leads to the Fall season is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere.
We are starting to feel how energy is moving and shifting around the globe. From a health and education perspective, kids are going back to in-person learning and working parents are going back to the office. Many countries are opening their doors so families can reunite and meet with their loved ones.
The world is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and we are seeing improved health outcomes around the globe. We can find an explanation for this change in the yoga sutras and in the eight limbs of yoga, including the Yamas and Niyamas.
Yamas are the 5-social/ethical aspects of the relationship that one creates between oneself and the world around them.
The Niyamas are the 5 personal disciplines and responsibilities that one practices within oneself.
This month, I would like to focus on the Niyama - "svadhyaya"- self-study. Gurudev Sri Ravi Shankar (an Indian spiritual leader, who founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1981) illuminates svadhyaya in the following quote: “There is a resemblance between the humans and the earth. Human consciousness is like a seed. A seed has the possibility of a tree, of the leaves, of a branch, of fruits, of flowers, of multiplication; so also, the human mind. A seed needs a proper ground, proper conditions, sunlight, water, proper soil for it to sprout and blossom. Similarly, human consciousness and the human mind. The seed and the mind can be dormant for years, keeping its possibility within itself, or it starts blossoming, sprouting".
Celebrating Earth Day and the month surrounding it, with the understanding of the potential for a change within you, is important. You should not go through a single day without making an impact on the world around you.
What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make. This month, take some time to be grateful for this planet, its amazing natural resources and the benefits we’ve reaped for thousands of years.
Here are some simple ideas of how to protect our planet: Walk more, drive less. Plant a tree or plants in your backyard. Enjoy using more daylight and refrain from using electronics and electricity. Reduce the use of plastics and recycle more. Conserve water. Find ways to connect with nature.
What could be a better way to connect with nature than an outdoor yoga class? Do something good for yourself and join me for some self-study “svadhyaya” in our next outdoor yoga class in my garden surrounded by green trees and nature.